The UO defense, however, can live with another solid day from Foles, especially in the wake of the Ducks’ fourth straight victory over the Wildcats, 56-31 Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

Far from perfect, the Ducks were again good enough to foil Foles on the scoreboard.

After opening the season against three consecutive run-first teams, UO defensive end Dion Jordan said the Ducks were champing at the bit to get after a quarterback. And in Foles, a classic drop-back passer, the Ducks got that chance.

“As a defensive line, our job was to pressure the quarterback — and that’s what we did for the whole game,” said Jordan, who had 1.5 of Oregon’s five sacks.

The Ducks had four sacks in their first three games of the season. They matched that total in the first half alone Saturday, with Jordan and Terrell Turner ending the half on back-to-back takedowns of Foles.

Foles and the Wildcats passed their way back in the game in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 35-24 on David Roberts’ seven-yard touchdown reception.

Trailing 42-24 early in the fourth, Arizona was threatening again, with a fourth-and-goal to go from the Oregon 6-yard line, but Jordan, Turner and Josh Kaddu swarmed Foles for another sack in what turned out to be the Wildcats’ last best chance.

“Against Nick Foles, we knew this game wasn’t in hand (when the Ducks were up 35-3),” Kelly said. “It was 35-9 at halftime and I told the team that this game isn’t close to over.”

Oregon benefited from a handful of drops by Arizona receivers in the first half, including two by Juron Criner, and a couple of overthrown balls by Foles.

“If those receivers make some of those catches, this is a much closer ballgame,” Kelly said. “Sometimes it wasn’t us beating them; it was them beating themselves.”

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